Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-28

GREW ON his TROUSERS. AS ne pplleo ON M
coat he looked out Of the front window, ani
by the light of the street lamp saw Georg'
Washington Willard in front Of the hous'
and looking up at the windows. Instantly
angry, he few down the stairs and opened
the front door.
@Aha," said he savagely by way Of greet
ing.
"Heah, Posey. Come heah," said Mr.. Mil
lard wooingly to the pug dog which had
followed him over. He pretended not to SET
Mr.. Gallaher.
as it watchin' me CRASH grow ye arer
asked Gallaher sarcastically.
"Nice doggie; good doggie," said the other
pat 1g it.
What de ye manel" demanded Gallaher
going down the walk.
Subtefuge was useless. II came over
sah," said Mr.. Millard- in precise tones, "be
cause heard shrieks, sab, in your domicile
sab. thought I recognized your wife:
voice, sabl'
"Howly Maryi" calculated Mrs. Gallaher
from the upper window. "Do that black
naygur say me vice is like that!'
This was too much. 1t could not be left to
Dennis to adjust. She threw on her petit
coats hurriedly.
Meanwhile the seriousness Of the occasion
had caused suspension of hostilities between
the men. They agreed that it was evidently
the murder of some woman in the vacant lot
in the rear of Gallaher's wagon house. Visions
of gore and bloody knives made Gallaher in
disposed to investigate it by himself, particu-
larly in his defenselecs condition. He invited
Willard to accompany him, and the latter &C.
cepted. The two men, followed by the pug,
passed on tiptoe along the alleyway at the
side of the house, crossed the yard and ap-
preached the wagon house, through which
they could pass to the lot
The minute he opened the door something
came tapping against him with a bang out of
the darkness, scratched his face and knocked
him d-wn. 1t was the peacock trying to get
out. Gallaher was little ratified anyhow.
He had forgotten the bird, and he yelled with
fright as scrambled to !, feet and ran
across the yard. Willard ;,AJ the pug had
been there some seconds when he arrived.
He looked saw gely at Willard to detect the
faintest smile. If he had seen one he would
have killed him on the spot
"Its me paycock," he said, hoarsely, and
he said no more, but there was blood in his
eye.
He found lantern and lighted it. Then
he went back and opened the door carefully.
The pug, aching for destruction, spied the
peacock.
"Broo-oo," croaked he with the hoarse bark
peculiar to pugs.
"Cawhorrrk!!" screamed the bird defiantly.
Posey abandoned his strategic advantage
between his owners legs and uncourteously
few at it. The peacock, glad to meet some
thing it could whip, met him half way. 1t
struck with its spurs, and, hitting with its
wings, knocked the dog over. Posey squaked
with terror and lay paralyzed while Robert
Emmet pecked him viciously.
"Stop him! Stop him" cried Mr.. Willard.
"Let 'em alone" yelled Gallaher.
Mr.. Willard, fearful for his pet, grabbed at
the peacock Then he struck at him with a
stick Then Gallaher's pentup Utica gave
way and he acted.
He was mad anyhow. He would have
given $40 if Willard had hit him instead Of
the fowl The accumulated anger OF years
spurred his right femoral muscles when he
kicked. If he had not hit his mark he would
hav broken his leg If he had had his boot
on he would have broken Mr.. Willard in two.
As it was his foot struck Mr.. Willard amid
ships like locomotive and knocked him five
feet, face downward on top of the peacock.
The bird screamed, Posey squalled, and the
men rolled over and over on tho floor. Mr.
Willard was no SLOUGH. His mo h was full
of feathers, but he had courage, and the bat
tie was hot and sanguinary. Reenforcements
for the Irish champion arrived in the shape Of
Mrs. Gallaher, who with handy shovel was
about to cleave Mr.. Millards skull when the
policeman grabbed it. At the sight Of him
she tainted dead away in his arms, and he
dropped her. Then he pulled the men apart.
"Here! This won't do, gentlemen" he said.
"Ill have no pug dargs in me neighbor-
hood" screamed Gallaher, with blood on the
front Of his nightshirt.
"The peacock--tchoo-began it, Mr.
her's-tchoo-peacock attacke my
wife's dog, sah!" screamed Willard. I en- he
spat out more feathers.
$50 an home," said the policeman to Mil
lard, and he went.
"Betther do nothin' about it, Misther Gal
laher," said he. "It'll be cross complaints an
no good. I'll have the poundmaster grab his
darg."
"Ye will" asked Gallaher
Sol will
"Begorral OH have We made sergeant
at the mkt meeting said the politician.
The dog is gone, and the peacock, too. The
families continue to not speak as they pass
by, and are still in q state of armed neutral
ity-New York Times.